An Ulster rugby fan has been awarded more than £37,000 in damages for injuries suffered as he was exiting Ravenhill Stadium.

The High Court ruled yesterday that the Irish Rugby Football Union breached a duty to reasonably ensure Neil Rae's safety at the east Belfast ground.

Mr Rae (41) sustained damaged ankle ligaments and a chipped bone in his foot as he was going down steps out of the grandstand.

He sued the IRFU, claiming the lack of an inside handrail led to the accident at the end of a game between Ulster and Leicester Tigers in January 2004.

His lawyers also argued that a structure jutting out from a wall at the bottom of the steps played a role. Barrister Alan Kane QC told the court how his client was taken by surprise and overbalanced when he stepped onto something unexpected.

He said installing an inner handrail would have reduced the width of the stairway, but not breached building regulations.

The judge pointed out how the route in and out of the grandstand would have been at “optimal capacity” as the game had just finished.

“It's a sports ground and people are anxious to get on with what they are doing. Nobody wants to hang around,” he said.

“In ordinary parlance it is a relatively narrow staircase.

“These are not great sweeping staircases that you would find at the great sports stadia of the world, where ramps are in place.”

Mr Justice McCloskey held that there was a risk to Mr Rae as he descended the steps among other spectators.

“I find as a matter of law that the reasonably prudent occupier of these premises would have installed a handrail on the inside and, secondly, would not have permitted this offending configuration at the bottom of the steps, something which could have been very easily rectified,” he said.

Damages already agreed at £37,140 were awarded to Mr Rae.

Following the verdict, the east Belfast man expressed regret at having to bring the case.

“I'm sorry it had to come to this.

“It could have been settled out of court,” he said.

The Belfast Telegraph attempted to contact the Irish Rugby Football Union after yesterday’s hearing but they did not return our calls.